Valve arrangement for a production pipe

Abstract

A tubular member has at least one drainage section including an inlet inlet and at least one self-adjustable flow control device to control the flow of fluid into the drainage section from a well. The flow control devices are located in an annular space surrounding a pipe between the inlet and an outlet is provided for fluid flowing into the drainage section. The annular space forms a flow path through the flow control device passing by a valve body arranged to adjust the flow area in response to the pressure difference across the flow control device and/or changes in density of the fluid. The flow control device includes a valve seat cooperating with the valve body. The valve body includes an annular resilient valve member arranged to be deformed at least in a radial direction, in order to reduce or increase the flow area through the flow control device.

The invention claimed is:  
     
       1. A tubular member having at least one drainage section comprising at least one inlet or aperture and at least one self-adjustable flow control device to control the flow of fluid into the drainage section from a well formed in a subterranean reservoir, wherein each of the flow control devices are located in an annular space surrounding a base pipe, said annular space being between said inlet or aperture and at least one outlet provided for fluid flowing into the base pipe, said annular space forming a flow path through the flow control device passing by a valve body arranged to reduce or increase the flow area of the flow control device in response to the pressure difference across the flow control device and/or changes in density of the fluid, wherein the flow control device comprises a valve seat cooperating with the valve body, which valve body comprises an annular resilient valve member arranged to be deformed at least in a radial direction in response to the pressure difference across the flow control device and/or changes in a density of the fluid, in order to reduce or increase the flow area through the flow control device. 
     
     
       2. The tubular member according to  claim 1 , wherein the annular resilient valve member is arranged to be deformed by the flowing fluid to decrease the flow area through the flow control device in response to an increased pressure difference across the flow control device and/or a changes in density deviating from that of the fluid to be extracted. 
     
     
       3. The tubular member according to  claim 1 , wherein the annular resilient valve member is in contact with a bevelled surface on the valve seat, which bevelled surface is arranged at an angle extending towards at least one exit opening in the flow control device in the direction of fluid flow. 
     
     
       4. The tubular member according to  claim 3 , wherein the annular resilient valve member is arranged to be deformed against the valve seat and displaced at least in a radial direction towards the at least one exit opening in the flow control device, thereby decreasing the flow area. 
     
     
       5. The tubular member according to  claim 1 , wherein the annular resilient valve member and the valve seat are arranged to extend around the base pipe within the annular space. 
     
     
       6. The tubular member according to  claim 5 , wherein the valve seat is positioned around the inner diameter of the annular space, which valve seat is arranged to limit the axial displacement of the annular resilient valve member. 
     
     
       7. The tubular member according to  claim 6 , wherein the annular resilient valve member is arranged to be forced against the valve seat and be deformed at least in a radial direction towards, or into contact with the outer diameter of the annular space. 
     
     
       8. The tubular member according to  claim 5 , wherein the valve seat is positioned around the outer diameter of the annular space, which valve seat is arranged to limit the axial displacement of the annular resilient valve member. 
     
     
       9. The tubular member according to  claim 8 , wherein the annular resilient valve member is arranged to be forced against the valve seat and be deformed at least in a radial direction towards, or into contact with the inner diameter of the annular space. 
     
     
       10. The tubular member according to  claim 5 , wherein the flow control device is arranged to extend between the inner and outer diameters of the annular space, and that fluid is arranged to flow past the annular resilient valve member through spaced arcuate gaps around the periphery of the flow control device. 
     
     
       11. The tubular member according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one annular resilient valve member and valve seat are arranged in a corresponding number of openings in a radial wall extending between the inner and outer diameters of the annular space. 
     
     
       12. The tubular member according to  claim 11 , wherein the annular resilient valve member is arranged to be forced against the valve seat and be deformed at least in a radial direction inwards, in order to decrease or prevent flow through the said openings in the radial wall. 
     
     
       13. The tubular member according to  claim 1 , wherein the annular space is arranged between the base pipe and a coaxial housing surrounding the base pipe. 
     
     
       14. The tubular member according to  claim 1 , wherein the annular space is provided with one or more flow control devices between the said inlet and the said outlet. 
     
     
       15. A self-adjustable flow control device arranged to control the flow of fluid into a drainage section from a well formed in a subterranean reservoir, wherein the flow control device is located in an annular space surrounding a base pipe, said annular space being between an inlet or aperture and at least one outlet for fluid flowing into the drainage section, said annular space forming a flow path through the flow control device, said flow control device comprising a valve body arranged to reduce or increase the flow area of the flow control device in response to the pressure difference across the flow control device and/or changes in density of the fluid, wherein the flow control device comprises a valve seat cooperating with the valve body, which valve body comprises an annular resilient valve member arranged to be deformed at least in a radial direction in response to the pressure difference across the flow control device and/or changes in density of the fluid, in order to reduce or increase the flow area through the flow control device. 
     
     
       16. The self-adjustable flow control device according to  claim 15 , wherein the annular resilient valve member and the valve seat are arranged to extend around the base pipe within the annular space. 
     
     
       17. The self-adjustable flow control device according to  claim 16 , wherein the valve seat is positioned around the inner diameter of the annular space, which valve seat is arranged to limit the axial displacement of the annular resilient valve member. 
     
     
       18. The self-adjustable flow control device according to  claim 17 , wherein the annular resilient valve member is arranged to be forced against the valve seat and be deformed at least in a radial direction towards, or into contact with the outer diameter of the annular space. 
     
     
       19. The self-adjustable flow control device according to  claim 16 , wherein the valve seat is positioned around the outer diameter of the annular space, which valve seat is arranged to limit the axial displacement of the annular resilient valve member. 
     
     
       20. The self-adjustable flow control device according to  claim 19 , wherein the annular resilient valve member is arranged to be forced against the valve seat and be deformed at least in a radial direction towards, or into contact with the inner diameter of the annular space. 
     
     
       21. The self-adjustable flow control device according to  claim 16 , wherein the flow control device is arranged to extend between the inner and outer diameters of the annular space, and that fluid is arranged to flow past the annular resilient valve member through spaced arcuate gaps around the periphery of the flow control device. 
     
     
       22. The self-adjustable flow control device according to  claim 15 , wherein at least one annular resilient valve member and valve seat are arranged in a corresponding number of openings in a radial wall extending between the inner and outer diameters of the annular space. 
     
     
       23. The self-adjustable flow control device according to  claim 22 , wherein the annular resilient valve member is arranged to be forced against the valve seat and be deformed at least in a radial direction inwards, in order to decrease or prevent flow through the said openings in the radial wall. 
     
     
       24. A method for automatically adjusting the flow through a self-adjustable flow control device for controlling the flow of fluid into a drainage section from a well formed in a subterranean reservoir into a production pipe, the method comprising:
 locating the flow control device in an annular space surrounding a tubular member of the production pipe, said annular space being between an inlet or aperture and at least one outlet for fluid flowing into the production pipe, said annular space forming a flow path through the flow control device passing by at least one valve body arranged to reduce or increase the flow area of the flow control device in response to the pressure difference across the flow control device and/or changes in density of the fluid, wherein fluid flowing through the flow control device forms a flow path passing the valve body, which valve body comprises an annular resilient valve member, and wherein the fluid acts on the valve body to deform the annular resilient valve member causing a reduction or increase of the flow area through the flow control device in response to the pressure difference across the flow control device and/or changes in density of the fluid. 
 
     
     
       25. The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the fluid flow forces the annular resilient valve member into contact with a bevelled surface on a valve seat, wherein the annular resilient valve member is deformed and directed in at least a radial direction to restrict the flow through the flow control device.